The Scientific Revolution

Key Terms

• Geocentric theory• Scientific Revolution• Heliocentric theory• Scientific method

Roots of the Scientific Revolution

• During Middle Ages, people accepted Ancient Greek or Church views of why things were

• Renaissance inspired sense of curiosity and questioning

• Reformation encouraged Christians to accept new ways of thinking about God and salvation

Scientific Revolution• Mid-1500s, a few scholars

published works that challenged theories of ancient thinkers and the Church

• As theories replaced assumptions, European thought changed

• New way of thinking about the natural world based on careful observations and ability to question accepted beliefs

Scientific Method

• New approach to science

• Procedure of gathering information and testing ideas

Copernicus• Ancient thinkers and

Church believed in the geocentric theory, that the earth was the center of universe

• Through research, Copernicus concluded that the sun was center of universe, or heliocentric theory

• Did not share until last year of life due to fact scholars and clergy would reject his findings

Brahe and Kepler

• Tycho Brahe studied movement of planets

• His student Johannes Kepler used information to prove planets moved in an elliptical movement around the sun, instead of circles

Galileo• Invented telescope• Used telescope to study

planets, moon, and stars more closely

• Findings showed moon and sun were not made of pure, perfect substance, as Aristotle believed

• Findings also supported theories of Copernicus

Galileo• Galileo published findings• Catholic Church upset by

this and put him on trial• Church threatened torture,

so Galileo read a signed letter that Copernicus was wrong

• Lived under house arrest the rest of his life

• Catholic Church acknowledge Galileo was right, in 1992

Bacon and Descartes

• Francis Bacon urged scientists to experiment and then draw conclusions

• Rene Descartes used math and logic, stating everything should be doubted until proven by reason

• “I think, therefore I am.”

Sir Isaac Newton

• Studied mathematics and physics

• Discovered law of gravity• Every object is affected

equally by the same force• All objects attract each

other, but strength of attraction depends on mass and distance apart

New Scientific Instruments

• First microscope used to look at cells and bacteria

• Mercury barometer to measure atmospheric pressure and predict weather

• Gabriel Fahrenheit made first thermometer that showed water freezing at 32°

Medicine • Early beliefs of human

anatomy based on dissection of pigs

• Andreas Vesalius dissected human corpses and recorded his findings in detail

• Detailed images of organs, bones, and muscles

• First vaccine produced by Edward Jenner for smallpox